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Assessing patients’ experiences of cancer care across the treatment pathway: a mapping review of recent psychosocial cancer care publications

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Abstract

Purpose

Patients are a critical source of information about the quality of the components of cancer care that contributes to optimal psychosocial outcomes. Recently published research was examined to determine the: (1) proportion of studies that examined at least one of 14 components of cancer care, (2) the proportion of studies that included multiple components of care, and (3) the phase of the cancer care pathway in which data collection occurred (i.e. pre-, during and post-treatment).

Methods

MEDLINE was searched to retrieve all data-based publications indexed for two international psychosocial cancer care journals (Supportive Care in Cancer and Psycho-Oncology) over a 2-year period. A total of 333 publications yielded 214 eligible publications that were assessed against the 14 components of care for which measurement by healthcare providers at multiple phases during cancer care is recommended. Publications were coded based on the: (1) specific component/s of care focused upon in the research, (2) number of components examined and (3) timing of data collection.

Results

The most frequently assessed component of care was physical and psychosocial screening (n = 198, 93%). Most studies (n = 187, 87%) examined a single component of care. No studies assessed all 14 components. Only seven studies (2.1%) examined components of care across multiple phases of the care pathway.

Conclusions

Recently published studies have examined limited segments of patients’ experiences of cancer care. To improve psychosocial outcomes among people living with and beyond cancer, there should be a greater focus on patients’ experiences across multiple components and the whole care pathway.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by a Cancer Council New South Wales Program Grant (PG16-09), a Strategic Research Partnership Grant (CSR 11-02) from Cancer Council NSW to the Newcastle Cancer Control Collaborative (New-3C) and infrastructure funding from the Hunter Medical Research Institute (HMRI). Dr. Amy Waller is supported by an Australian Research Council Discovery Early Career Research Award (DE150101262). Dr. Lisa Mackenzie is supported by a Postdoctoral Fellowship grant [PF-16-011] from the Australian National Breast Cancer Foundation. Dr. Jamie Bryant is supported by an NHMRC-ARC Dementia Research Development Fellowship. Anne Herrmann is supported by a University of Newcastle/Hunter Cancer Research Alliance Research Scholarship and has received funding support from the Hunter Cancer Research Alliance Implementation Science Flagship Program as part of the 2017 and the 2018 Research Higher Degree Award initiative. Our thanks to Katrina Wallace for research support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Health Behaviour Research Collaborative, School of Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle, HMRI Building Level 4, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia

    Rob Sanson-Fisher, Kristy Fakes, Amy Waller, Lisa Mackenzie, Jamie Bryant & Anne Herrmann

  2. Priority Research Centre for Health Behaviour, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia

    Rob Sanson-Fisher, Kristy Fakes, Amy Waller, Lisa Mackenzie, Jamie Bryant & Anne Herrmann

  3. Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, NSW, Australia

    Rob Sanson-Fisher, Kristy Fakes, Amy Waller, Lisa Mackenzie, Jamie Bryant & Anne Herrmann

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  1. Rob Sanson-Fisher
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Correspondence to Rob Sanson-Fisher.

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Sanson-Fisher, R., Fakes, K., Waller, A. et al. Assessing patients’ experiences of cancer care across the treatment pathway: a mapping review of recent psychosocial cancer care publications. Support Care Cancer 27, 1997–2006 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-019-04740-1

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